The Shark Tank Effect: Top Success Stories from the First 3 Seasons

Each fall, startup junkies tune in to ABC’s Shark Tank to watch the Sharks rip the business concepts and to drool over the money some entrepreneurs score. But what happens after the cameras stop rolling?

As season four starts tonight, we decided to find out how much of a difference that Shark Tank exposure and funding from the investors helped the winning startups. To find out which businesses hit the big time, we asked the Sharks which ones they considered their most successful investments. Here are 10 of their top choices -- plus one more entrepreneur who refused the Sharks’ funding offers twice but still saw his business explode.

The Shark Tank Effect: Top Success Stories from the First 3 Seasons

1. AVA the Elephant Brand

Based in: Atlanta, Ga. and New York CityFounded by: Tiffany KruminsProduct: A medicine dropper for childrenShark Tank appearance: August 9, 2009

Show highlight: Despite not yet having a patent or even a mold made of her product – “It’s not a business, it’s an idea!” snarked Shark Kevin O’Leary – Krumins was able to get Barbara Corcoran on board.

Shark funder: Barbara CorcoranFunding amount and equity stake: $50,000 for 55 percentFirst year revenue: $100,000 (2010)2011 revenue: $500,000; with addition of a second product, 2013 sales forecast of more than $1 million.Post-show Shark involvement: Corcoran is still the sole investor and remains the majority owner.

Post-show news:AVA the Elephant brand is sold in 10 countries and is available in more than 10,000 U.S. stores. The first brand extension, which will aid parents in monitoring a child’s temperature, is set to launch this month.

The Shark Tank Effect: Top Success Stories from the First 3 Seasons

2. Perry's Music LLC DBA ChordBuddy

Based in: Dothan, Ala.Founded by: Travis PerryProduct: A device that helps children learn to play guitar chordsShark Tank appearance: February 3, 2012

Show highlight: “Being able to share my story and securing a business deal with one of the Sharks, Robert Herjavec,” Perry says.

Shark funder: Robert HerjavecFunding amount and equity stake: $175,000 for 20 percentFirst year revenue: $130,000 (2010)2011 revenue: $272,000; 2012 revenue: $1.3 million through Aug. 31.Post-show Shark involvement: Herjavec has made appearances promoting the ChordBuddy on the Canada Shopping Channel. “We are constantly in contact with Robert regarding the growth of our business,” Perry says.

Post-show news: 200 retail outlets sell ChordBuddy. The company also developed its own line of acoustic guitars, has appeared twice on the Canada Shopping Channel, and has a QVC deal in the works. Herjavec tweeted recently, “Think biggest Shark Tank deal -- signing huge country star as spokesperson [John Rich from country-music duo Big & Rich].”

The Shark Tank Effect: Top Success Stories from the First 3 Seasons

3. CitiKitty Inc.

Show highlight: Getting two offers, from Kevin Harrington and Barbara Corcoran

Shark funder: Kevin HarringtonFunding amount and equity stake: $100,000 for 20 percentFirst year revenue: $100,000 (2005)2011 revenue: More than $1 MillionPost-show Shark involvement: Appearances on Late Night with David Letterman and The View.

Post-show news:CitiKitty is available in nearly 1,000 stores, and the company has added a line of cat and dog treats called TunaTreats and SaltDog. “We are also working on introducing new products outside the pet industry,” Rescate says, though details are not yet available.

Post-show news: Nelson has appeared on QVC seven times, along with The Nate Berkus Show, Anderson Cooper, ABC World News and The Today Show. In early September, Nelson was flying to Los Angeles to compete in a new cooking show.

The Shark Tank Effect: Top Success Stories from the First 3 Seasons

5. EzVip.com

Show highlight: After taking himself out of the bidding to invest, Mark Cuban came back in to partner with Daymond John when Nelson added a marketing partnership with rapper Armando Perez a/k/a Pitbull to the deal. Robert Herjevec and Kevin O’Leary made another offer that Nelson passed over in favor of partnering with party animals John and Cuban, whom he felt were more likely to have useful connections.

Shark funders: Mark Cuban, Daymond JohnFunding amount and equity stake: $150,000 for 40 percentFirst year revenue: Won’t disclose2011 revenue: Won’t disclosePost-show Shark involvement: “Both Mark and Daymond serve as active advisors for EzVip.com,” Nelson says. “Al speaks to Daymond once every week or so and speaks to Mark about once a month. Daymond acts as the company’s brand advisor, helping it to expand into areas outside of the nightlife realm, while Mark helps to establish meetings with potential partner venues, such as the top nightclubs in Las Vegas.”

Post-show news: EzVip.com is live in Las Vegas and Miami and preparing to launch in Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta. The company is expanding to offer access to high-end restaurants, travel accommodations and more.

The Shark Tank Effect: Top Success Stories from the First 3 Seasons

6. Litter

Show highlight: “Having the sharks fight over a deal with us,” say Mann and Burdick.

Shark funders: Daymond John and Mark CubanFunding amount & Equity stake: $80,000 for 70 percentFirst year revenue: $30,000 (2009)2011 revenue: $95,000Post-show Shark involvement: “Mark has become a great go-to for business advice on how to step up our game. Daymond is super hands-on and is constantly using his industry connections to work out new opportunities for us,” the Litter PR team reports.

Post-show news:Litter, which sells online now, is scheduled to launch in a major retailer in spring 2013, John says, estimating that if the deal goes as planned, sales next year will top $3 million.

The Shark Tank Effect: Top Success Stories from the First 3 Seasons

7. Pork Barrel BBQ

Show highlight: The Sharks were skeptical when Thompson and Hall said they had 10,000 units of their sauce ready to go. “What if the 10,000 don’t sell?” cracked Kevin Harrington. Even more embarrassing, Barbara Corcoran said she couldn’t look at Hall without imagining him in a pig costume.

Shark funder: Barbara CorcoranFunding amount and equity stake: $50,000 for 50 percentFirst year revenue: $5,000 (2009)Cumulative revenue: Topped $3 million in July Post-show Shark involvement: Pork Barrel was featured in Corcoran’s Shark Tales (Portfolio Trade, February 2011), and the founders are presenting at the 2012 World Business Forum with Corcoran in New York City in October.

Post-show news: In November 2011, the founders launched Pork Barrel BBQ Restaurant in Alexandria, Va., with two restaurateur partners. Pork Barrel has added five products including an all-purpose Spice Rub. The staff has grown to more than 50, and the company has won several barbecue competitions, including the 2012 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour.

The Shark Tank Effect: Top Success Stories from the First 3 Seasons

8. Readerest

Show highlight: Hopper tripped and fell on his way into the tank. It was later revealed that he did it intentionally to show the performance of his magnetic eyeglass holder. Kevin O'Leary said a million-dollar valuation for a piece of metal with two magnets was "pure insanity.”

Post-show news: Readerest has moved into a 6,000 square-foot building and now has 14 employees. Readerest is sold in several hundred independent stores, and Hopper says he was recently approached by Wal-Mart, Ace Hardware and Walgreens.

The Shark Tank Effect: Top Success Stories from the First 3 Seasons

9. Talbott Teas

Show highlight: "Daymond [John] said that we were a great business, but could not invest because he was already invested in a similar business. Mark Cuban called us the Dolce and Gabbana of tea," Nakisher says. "Kevin, who ‘never’ changes his valuation because he is a ‘disciplined investor’ negotiated with us, lowered his initial ask and we made a deal."

The Shark Tank Effect: Top Success Stories from the First 3 Seasons

10. Tower Paddle Boards LLC

Show highlight: “Stephan froze pretty epically during his pitch and was mercilessly ridiculed by the Sharks, but then he made a Rocky-like comeback and got competing offers from both Mark Cuban and Kevin O'Leary,” says a company spokeswoman.

Shark funder: Mark CubanFunding amount and equity stake: $150,000 for 30 percentFirst four months revenue: $3,000 (2011)2011 full-year revenue: $250,000Post-show Shark involvement: In November 2011, Cuban negotiated for a right of first refusal on investing in any business Stephan starts in the future. Four months after funding, Cuban received his first dividend check for $50,000. To fund a $215,000 purchase order from Amazon-owned Woot, Cuban loaned the company $165,000 and didn’t receive any additional equity.

Post-show news: Revenue through August 2012 is well over $1 million and on pace to hit $1.5 million for the full year, the company reports. Tower Paddle Boards are now sold in more than 40 countries.

The Shark Tank Effect: Top Success Stories from the First 3 Seasons

11. Copa Di Vino

Based in: The Dalles, Ore.Founded by: James MartinProduct: Wine that comes in a glassShark Tank appearance: March 20, 2011, and April 13, 2012. He was the only entrepreneur to be invited back to re-pitch on the show.

Show highlight: “Don’t come and tell me this is premium wine,” sniped O’Leary at first, but he came around. “I’m a dream come true for you!” he said later, making an offer for the bottling patent. But Martin turned it down. “I forget who he is, I don’t care now, it’s over. He’s a dead man walking,” O’Leary said on the broadcast. It was a similar story on round two.

Post-show news: The staff has grown from seven to 74 in the past 16 months, and Copa is now sold in 42 states, including MGM hotels and Wal-Mart. “We are working on new shapes and designs and are contract bottling for other big labels,” Martin says.